Norton Featherbed 750 Road Racer goes under the hammer

Get your hands on a unique piece of British/American motorcycle history at Bonhams Las Vegas Auction on the 25th of January.

This Norton Featherbed 750 Road Racer was built by California Norton dealer Sonny Angel for racing duties in the USA. The racer special fitted a 1962 650 Norton parallel twin powerplant (rebored to 750cc, with twin Amal carburetors sporting alloy velocity stacks) inside a Norton Featherbed frame –  a popular choice among motorcycle racers of the era, and a design that was widely copied by other manufacturers.

An open single-chain primary connects the 750cc parallel twin to a 4-speed Norton gearbox, the one used extensively through to the end of Commando production in the 1970s. Interestingly, Sonny Angel and his team fitted a twin sprocket NSU rear wheel to allow for quick gearing changes.

Up front, Norton Roadholder forks were fitted, topped with clip-on handlebars and a tachometer – there was no need for a speedometer, headlight, or indicators, as it was never intended for road use. A single seat with a bump stop was installed behind a large-capacity Manx-style fuel tank, with a strap to hold it in place, and knee indents on either side to accommodate the rider’s legs. Hand-painted number “5” plates were applied to both sides and the front, and short exhausts were fitted with no cross-over, topped with the notably small mufflers.

In recent years the Norton has been rebuilt, and is listed as running. Bonhams estimate that the Norton will reach between $16,000 to $20,000 USD (£11,000 to £13,000). If you’d like to read more about the bike or register to bid you can click HERE to visit the listing.